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ClosedUpdated 9 Jun 2026Research Innovation

TechLocal: AI professional degree and traineeship accelerator

Innovate UK · United Kingdom

Grant funding to develop Level 6 and Level 7 equivalent AI higher education courses, professional practice programmes and graduate traineeships. Focus on building industry ready AI professionals aligned to local skills demand.

Summary

Deadline

18 Mar 2026

Complexity

Medium

Time to apply

20-60 hours

Updated

9 Jun 2026

Grant funding to develop Level 6 and Level 7 equivalent AI higher education courses, professional practice programmes and graduate traineeships. Focus on building industry ready AI professionals aligned to local skills demand.

Eligibility

Applicant types

Research

Business size

Research organisation

Industries

Artificial Intelligence. AI related disciplines.

Match funding

Not required

Requirements

UK registered academic institution or education provider can lead. Open to single applicants and collaborations. UK registered organisation eligible per TechLocal AI professional degree and traineeship accelerator competition. Development of Level 6 or Level 7 AI curricula, courses, modules, traineeships, internships and work placements. Must embed work integrated learning. Must focus on AI tec...

Eligible applicants

UK registered academic institution or education provider can lead. Open to single applicants and collaborations.

Funding and scope

Benefit amount

£300,000

Total fund available

£7,800,000

Funding intensity

100% of eligible project costs subject to Minimal Financial Assistance limit

Payment type

Reimbursement (in arrears)

Eligible scope

Development of Level 6 or Level 7 AI curricula, courses, modules, traineeships, internships and work placements. Must embed work integrated learning. Must focus on AI technology. Must demonstrate regional impact. Must not replicate other TechFirst initiatives. Must include strong employer engagement.

Eligible expenses

  • Eligible project costs only. Funding requested at 100%. Contributions in finance table must be £0. Academic institutions must upload Je-S form.

Ineligible costs

  • Costs not eligible under Innovate UK IFS competition guidance.

Application and risks

Application platform

Innovation Funding Service

Competitiveness

Closed / Not accepting applications

Decision timeline

Applicants notified 27 April 2026.

Assessment process

Reviewed by three independent assessors. Portfolio approach applied.

Application sections

  • Project details. Application questions. Finances.

Application components

Not specified

Required documents

Not specified

Appendices

  • Minimal Financial Assistance declaration. Approach appendix. Team summary appendix. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register. Je-S form for academic institutions.

Assessment criteria

Not specified

Decision risks

Portfolio approach may limit awards. Exceeding Minimal Financial Assistance limit makes application ineligible. Outstanding payments to Innovate UK may affect decision. Government funding withdrawal may revoke award.

Timeline and partners

Opening date

4 Feb 2026

Project duration

18 to 45 months

Project start

30 Jun 2026

Project end

30 Mar 2030

Co-funders

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Collaboration rules

  • Single or collaborative applications allowed. If collaborative, lead and at least one other organisation must apply for funding. No partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.

Consortium requirements

  • Collaborations as permitted in TechLocal competition guidance.

Additional guidance

[{"label":"Collaborating Organisations","value":"UK registered business of any size; academic institution; charity; not for profit; public sector organisation; research and technology organisation."},{"label":"Application Limit","value":"Academic institution or education provider can lead up to two applications and collaborate in any number. Businesses, charities, not for profits, public sector organisations and RTOs can collaborate in two applications."},{"label":"Research Category","value":"Experimental development"},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Allowed. Must follow usual procurement process. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Lower cost alone is not sufficient reason."},{"label":"Subsidy Scheme","value":"Awarded as Minimal Financial Assistance under Subsidy Control Act 2022. £315,000 cap over three year rolling period."},{"label":"Sanctions Rule","value":"Funding will not be provided where it breaches UK sanctions."},{"label":"Animal Research Rule","value":"Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance. Additional information required if applicable."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Must ensure at least 90% of participants undertake work experience, internship or traineeship. Must demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion. Must show regional delivery capability. Must start on first of the month. Must not include URLs in application answers."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Previously submitted application that reached assessment stage can be resubmitted once if not materially different."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Must request 100% funding in finance table. Projects must not start before Grant Offer Letter approval. Funding allocation may be adjusted."}]

Quick facts

Status
Closed
Deadline
18 Mar 2026
Funding amount
£300,000
Funding band
Large (£5M+)
Funding type
Grant
Payment type
Reimbursement (in arrears)
Audience
Research Innovation
Industry
Artificial Intelligence. AI related disciplines.
Last updated
9 Jun 2026
Published
2 Feb 2026